The last time Sydney had a chance to dig Directions in Groove
was six years ago. However, the Oz kings of what was then being
called acid jazz - a rather asinine name for jazzy improvising
mated with danceable grooves - never really broke up.

Rather, they just drifted apart into different projects,
different countries. Now the drift is completing its circle, and
the hordes of fans who once dug Dig have an excuse to come out in,
well, spades.

Since 1999, the members of Dig have done anything from play with
the Whitlams (drummer Terepai Richmond) to go overseas (guitarist
Tim Rollinson and bass player Sam Dixon). Last September, they
harnessed original bass player Alex Hewetson and did a short
northern NSW and Queensland tour to support a new live album from
'99.

Spurred into action by an invitation to play at the Darling
Harbour Jazz Festival, Dig will play two gigs at the venue of their
"home" games in the old days, the Basement, on June 24 and 25.

Fans will be treated to what was the original line-up, completed
by saxophonist Rick Robertson and keyboard player Scott Saunders.
It will be augmented by singer Inga Liljestrom, who was on the
Curvystrasse CD, and trumpeter Phil Slater, who was involved for a
couple of the middle years.

The group will concentrate mainly on the earlier material, but
Rollinson concedes it will probably sound a little different; not
only because of the effect of their songs being launch pads for
improvisation, but also because they will have inevitably evolved
as players.

"Given that we've had a long break - apart from those few gigs
last year - I think it will be interesting," he says. "When you're
doing something constantly, it's a slow evolution, and then when
you take a break from it, only the bits that, in retrospect, seem
important tend to stick."

Rollinson would like to record a new CD and hopes the band will
still play occasionally. Meanwhile, he encourages the old fans to
return to the fold.

"Anybody who previously enjoyed Dig certainly won't be
disappointed by what we're playing," he says.

The Darling Harbour line-up extends well beyond jazz into the
whole R&B spectrum. Tomorrow's bill includes Robert Susz's
re-formed Dynamic Hepnotics at 3.30pm, now called the Soul Kind of
Feeling Band after their No. 1 hit, and the Backsliders at
4.15pm.

On Sunday, the Java Quartet and Dale Barlow Quartet will play at
1pm and 3.10pm respectively, Jackie Orszaczky will perform the
songs of Ray Charles at 4.15pm, and Renee Geyer will sing the songs
of whomever she damn well likes at 6.15pm.

Monday's highlights include the wonderful Matt McMahon Quartet
at 1pm, Waiting for Guinness at 2.15pm and Dig at 3.30pm.